Offices Held

Biography

Noel’s father, the founder of the family fortunes, left instructions that his cousin, the lawyer Robert Nowell, was to explain to the Queen the special reasons why his property was to go to Andrew Noel, the second son, instead of the eldest son John. Presumably all parties accepted the situation as the settlement was not challenged. Thus Noel became a substantial landowner in both Leicestershire and Rutland, enhancing his position in Rutland by his marriage into the best county family. Noel was rated at £50 for the 1589 loan. From 1584 to 1593 Noel shared the Rutland county seats with his in-laws. He was probably the Sir Andrew ‘Nevill’ appointed to attend the Queen to submit the petition about Mary Queen of Scots, 11 Nov. 1586. Otherwise he made little impact on the journals, though as a knight of the shire he would have been able to attend the subsidy committees of 24 Feb. 1585 and 26 Feb. 1593 and a legal committee on 9 Mar. 1593.

In 1597 Noel conceded his Rutland seat to William Cecil, who was elected with James Harington II. Perhaps Noel saw this as the thin end of the wedge, for at the time of the 1601 election when, through bad luck, he was sheriff, he made frantic efforts to retain his grip on a county seat. Hesitating to return himself, which was illegal, though it sometimes happened, Noel tried to promote the candidature of his 19 year-old son Edward, which was opposed by his brother-in-law (Sir) John Harington II. In the event he returned himself, the House declared the election void and Edward Noel was returned at the ensuing by-election, his father declaring he would rather ‘lie in the dust’ that fail to have his son elected. Harington now pursued Noel in Star Chamber and humiliated him and his servants in the county. The animosity must have abated by the time Noel made his will, for he named Harington one of the supervisors. Noel died 19 Oct. 1607 at Brooke, and was buried at with great pomp on 8 Dec. He could bequeath another seat, Stonesby, to his second son Charles, and leave £100 annuities to his younger sons, without embarrassing his heir’s position. To a daughter, Elizabeth, he left a dowry of £3,000, and to various trusted servants generous annuities. Noel’s daughter Theodosia married a Cecil.